Después de la escuelaAfter-School Program · grades 2–12 · Monday to Thursday, 4–7 pm
Homework with university mentors, twenty minutes of reading, a family circle, and classes taught by the community — every afternoon, in Spanish and English, a few blocks from Norristown’s schools.
Una tarde en CCATEWhat a typical afternoon looks like
Tarea con mentores
Students arrive, check in and do their homework with college students and community volunteers, in small groups by grade.
Dejar todo y leer
Twenty minutes of reading in small groups. Students choose their book and share a project at the end of the semester.
Círculo familiar
Everyone together: a short meditation, the question of the day, student presentations and the month’s theme.
Clases
Classes in art, science, music, cooking, sports and media — taught by staff, volunteers and community members.
Pick-up is at 7:00 pm. Fridays are reserved for the High School Program.
La semanaClasses that rotate, and one afternoon of art for everyone
Clases en rotación
Each afternoon offers several classes at once, in small groups. Students take two classes a semester, switching after six weeks, so every child tries something new. Groups are kept balanced so that no class becomes “just for boys” or “just for girls.”
Fall 2026 classes include:
- Arte, ciencia y microbios
- Creatividad analógica
- Mindful art
- Paisajismo y arquitectura
- Senderismo · hiking
- Ballet & cheer
- Cocina · cooking
- Música
- Fotografía
- Podcast
- Deportes
Classes change every semester, depending on our volunteers and what students ask for.
Arte colectivo
On Wednesdays the whole program makes art together: murals, nichos, the tree of life, tin work (hojalata), piñatas and pieces for exhibitions like Noche de Arte and Audubon Community Day. Some of the work goes to the students’ own shop, the Tienda de Arte.
Más que tareaWe look at the whole child — emotional, social and physical health, not only grades
Mindfulness every day
Breathing and meditation open the family circle. Students now lead the practice themselves, and visiting therapists have noticed how quickly they settle.
A tech-free afternoon
Phones and earbuds are put away when students arrive. Chromebooks are used for schoolwork with a volunteer beside them.
Check-ins, one by one
Staff keep track of each student’s grades and wellbeing, and talk with families when something needs attention.
Students lead
Students give presentations, organize parties through their own planning committee, share clean-up roles, and run the Tienda de Arte.
Monthly themes in the family circle: Hispanic Heritage, gender equity, Indigenous peoples, human rights and migrants, African American history, disability awareness, Pride — and, in 2026, technology, cyberbullying, media literacy and emotional health.
Grupo de secundariaA space of their own for middle schoolers
Middle school is when many students start to drift away from programs like ours. So grades 6–8 have their own group, with two coordinators who are close in age to the students and act as older siblings and confidants.
- Weekly group meetings on the topics students bring
- Individual support with grades, schoolwork and emotional health
- A points-and-rewards system the group designs together
- A direct chat channel with middle school parents
Mentores universitariosTodos enseñamos, todos aprendemos
About fifty college students join us every semester through service-learning courses and community partnerships. They help with homework, lead reading groups, teach classes — and many of our students meet a college student for the first time here.
Community members teach too: parents, alumni and local artists share what they know. Every adult who works with children at CCATE has Pennsylvania criminal background and child abuse clearances.
University of Pennsylvania · Villanova · Saint Joseph’s · Haverford · Bryn Mawr · Ursinus · Arcadia · Cabrini · Temple · Montgomery County Community College
Las familias son miembrosCCATE is not a daycare or a homework center — families are members, not clients
Education is shared work between CCATE, the family and the student. When a family registers, they sign a family pact and commit to:
Un lugar seguroSafety
- Students under 18 need signed authorization from a parent or guardian to be on site.
- Staff are trained in child abuse prevention and Mental Health First Aid.
- Emergency and safety protocols are practiced with students every semester.
- A capped number of students per day, so every child is known by name.
Cómo sabemos que funcionaHow we measure progress
We look at school performance and at each student’s emotional, social and physical development, using parent, student and teacher surveys, report cards, and focus groups with families. Our summer program is evaluated the same way through appreciative inquiry.
¿Quieres un lugar para tu hijo o hija?Fall 2026 is full — join the waitlist and we will call you when a spot opens
Spots are offered in the order requests arrive. Questions about the program? Call or write to us — in Spanish or English.
Todos enseñamos, todos aprendemos.